Local Interest

12:25 am

Mon September 17, 2007

Groups Call for Special Session on Transpo Funding

Wilmington, NC – The Department of Transportation has estimated that North Carolina faces at least a $30 billion shortfall in transportation funding over the next quarter century.

Now transportation organizations around the state are trying to pressure Governor Mike Easley to convene a special session of the General Assembly to consider new funding options for transportation, and they're asking municipalities to join in that effort.

The Wilmington City Council will consider adding its voice to that push at its meeting tomorrow, following a request from the area's Metropolitan Transporation Organization.

City Manager Sterling Cheatham says increased transportation funding has been on the city's legislative agenda for the past several years.

"The whole effort here is to underscore the need to get this matter addressed and get it addressed immediately and we think it warrants that kind of attention."

According to Cheatham, DOT officials set the funding shortfall in Southeastern North Carolina at $20 million dollars in the next five years. *****

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